Process of and device for making spring insertions for cushions and the like



A. EHLENBECK AND DEVICE FOR MAK 1,761,711 PR ss 0F ING SPRING I s RTIONS FOR CUSHIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 26. 1928 June 3,1930.

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Patented June 3, 1930 ALFRED EHLENBECK, OF VOHWINKEJ J, GERMANY PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR MAKING srnnve INSERTIONS non cusn'rons AND THE LIKE' Application filed December 26, 1928, Serial No. 328,434, and in Germany April 9, 1927.

This invention relates to a process of and device for interweaving a plurality of interconnected cylindrical wire coils placed in uxtaposition so as to produce, with a minimum '5 expenditure of labour and material, a spring structure which can advantageously be used in cushions, mattresses and the like, and the invention consists in forming the entire length of the wire into a coil spring, threading said spring on a reel, pressing off the turns one by one from said reel, turning the reel through 180 transversely of its axis each time a given number of turns has been pressed ofi so as to form a plurality of coils and so as to place said coils in juxtaposition in the same plane, and passing the reel with the remaining turns through a turn in the adjacent 0011 or coils each time a fresh turn is pressedofi' from the reel.

In this manner a wire spring structure will be produced in which all the coils are inter woven and formed of a continuous wire, no rings or other fastening elements being employed which might wear and damage the cushion or like cover.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a view of the reel and the coil spring.

Fig. 2, an axial section of the reel,

Fig. 3, an end view of the reel, 7

Fig. 4, a top view of part of the spring structure, and Fig. 5, a side view of the structure.

The spring structure consists of a plurality of interwoven cylindrical wire coils placed in juxtaposition and formed of a single con,-

. tinuous wire. For making the structure, the

pitch of the coils, the number of turns ineach coil, and the number of coils in the structure sired pitch having as many turnsas are to be contained in the entire spring structure, is then made on a spring-winding machine, a

few turns being added to compensate for posthe wire turns, .on being pressed ofi the reel are first calculated. A coil spring of the dein axial direction, can easily slip ofl' the flange.

To apply the coil spring to the reel, one end of the spring is passed through a stationary guide and then laid round the reel whereupon the latter is rotated so as to take up the entire coil spring. As the wire passes through the guide, the free portion a of the coil spring rotates about its axis, and the spring will not, therefore, be subjected to any excessive strain and will retainits original nature.

When the entire coil spring is on the reel, themaking of the spring structure can commence. For this purpose the turns are engaged by a finger or finger nail and pressed off one by one over the notched flange. Each turn catches in the notch f and is retained therein until it is raised out of the notch. In the first place as many turns are pressed oil as required for the formation of one coil. This coil, is placed on a holder 9 and the reel is then turned through 180 transversely of its axis so as to commence a new coil at h which coil will be placed in juxtaposition with the first c'oil. A 'fresh turn z' is then pressed off the reel whereupon the latter is passed like a shuttle, together" with the remaining turns,

through the turn k of the first coil. The turns" m and o are also pressed off one by one, and the reel is passed in the same manner through the coils m1 and 7) of the first coil. Thus the two coils will be interwoven, as shown in Fig. 5. A third coil is commenced at r for which purpose the reel is again turned through 180, and the coil is interwoven with the second coil. One row of coils having been interwoven in this manner,the last coil of the row is placed on a holder 9, whereupon another row is commenced the first coil ofwhich is also placed on a holder. The coils of the second row are interwoven not only with one another but also with the coils of the first row, as shown in Fig.4. Subsequent rows are similarlyinterwoven until the structure is completed.

The different holders 9 may be held in position by frames having slotted members into which the holders are inserted.

I claim: 1. A process of making wire spring struc- 10 tures for use in cushions and the likeconsisting in forming the entire-length of wire into :1 coil spring, threading said spring on a reel, pressing oil the turns one by one from said reel, turning the reel through 180, transver'sely of its axis, each time a given number of turns has been pressed oil so as to form a plurality of cylindrical coils and so as to place said coils in juxtaposition in the same plane, and passing the reel with the remain g ing turns through a turn in the adjacent coil or coils each time a fresh turn is pressed off from the reel.

2. A device for interweaving a plurality of interconnected cylindrical s ring coils comprising a reel adapted to receive all the wire turns of the entire number of coils. and end flanges on said reel allowing the turns to be pressed off in axial direction from the reel one flange of the reel being formed with a notch vadapted to retain each turn of the coil until it is pressed off, one side of the notch being substantially at right angles to the flange, the other side being cut aslant.

ALFRED EHLENBECK. 

